G. Wiesen
Last Modified Date: October 26, 2022
A SIM lock is a function built into many mobile telephones that allows phone service providers to lock a phone so it can only be used under certain circumstances. These circumstances are typically involved with retaining phone service, such as only allowing the phone to work in certain countries or on networks provided by a specific company. This locking function is connected to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) provided with the phone and ensures that the phone can only be used in a way the service provider wishes. A SIM lock can be unlocked by the company that provides the phone service or by using a number of different third-party applications.
SIM card.Also called a “simlock” or network lock, a SIM lock is usually meant to ensure that customers who purchase a phone from a particular company continue to use that company’s services. Unless unlocked, a card that is locked will typically work only with the network provided by a particular company or in a certain region. This is done to encourage customers of a mobile service provider to remain loyal to that provider in the long run. Phones that have a SIM lock may also be less expensive than unlocked phones, since they typically ensure that the customer purchasing the phone only uses the network provided by the selling company.
SIM card being placed into a mobile phone.The SIM lock on a phone is typically associated with the SIM card provided with the phone, meaning a customer using a particular mobile provider will be locked on any phone he or she uses with that card. SIM cards allow customers to transfer their information and phone service between different phones. The SIM lock on these cards allows providers to ensure that a customer continues to use their service while under contract.
Most mobile network providers can unlock a SIM lock if asked to do so by a customer. There are typically no statutes requiring that providers do so, however, so it is up to a company to decide whether a SIM card should be unlocked. Even once unlocked, the phone may still retain firmware associated with the service provider, such as menus and operating systems. This is why an unlocked phone may still display the logo for a certain service provider on startup.
A phone with a SIM lock can also typically be unlocked using third-party programs and services. The legality of such services is somewhat questionable, but typically is allowed though such companies may charge a sizable fee. Information provided by a person to have a SIM card unlocked can also potentially be used by someone else to spoof the person’s phone information. This could allow someone else to use his or her service and could lead to legal complications or service cancellation in the long run.
Some sim cards are packaged inside of a larger card in order to protect them from damage before use.You might also Like
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Contents
- 1 How to unlock SIM card on iPhone
- 1.1 Unlock iPhone SIM card via Phone App
- 1.2 Unlock SIM on iPhone via Settings App
- 2 Changing or disabling the SIM PIN code on iPhone
How to unlock SIM card on iPhone
You might have seen the screen that informs you of the “SIM Locked” status before, it looks like this on the iPhone:
If by mistake you press “Cancel” in the upper left corner of the “SIM is locked” screen, the SIM card remains locked. Since you actually want to unlock the SIM card, there is a quick way to get the SIM card unlock dialog back.
By the way: If you’ve never defined or changed your iPhone SIM card PIN, check the default unlock PIN your carrier is using for the card. You can retrieve the default PIN by looking at the documentation or manual that was sent with the SIM card. The documentation also includes a Super PIN in case you entered a wrong PIN number repeatedly. This way your carrier can unlock your SIM card.
Tip: You are not sure if your iPhone is unlocked? We show you how to find out if your iPhone is locked.
Unlock iPhone SIM card via Phone App
Phone app → Call any numberThe easiest and most straightforward way to get the “SIM is locked” dialog back so you can unlock your iPhone is to open up the Phone App, then initiate a call with any number or any of your contacts. The dialog will return, allowing you to enter your SIM PIN. You can even enter a bogus number such as “333” and hit the green button, instead of calling an actual number.
Unlock SIM on iPhone via Settings App
Settings app → Cellular → SIM PINAnother way to pull up the unlock prompt is to visit the “Settings” app. Head over to the “Cellular” section and finally select “SIM PIN”. Your iPhone should now ask you to unlock the SIM card.
From here, you’ll also be able to change the actual SIM PIN itself. Read on to find out how to do it.
Changing or disabling the SIM PIN code on iPhone
Settings app → Cellular → SIM PIN → Change PINBy following the same menu path as above, we can actually go in and change the SIM PIN that protects the SIM card our iPhone is currently equipped with.
After entering the current PIN, simply tap “Change PIN” to enter a new one. You can also slide the toggle to the “off” position and disable the SIM PIN altogether. We recommended to at least use an iPhone Passcode for security and privacy purposes.
You need to reset or reboot your iPhone and do not know how? No worries in our article How to reset iPhone we explain how it’s done.